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With a Round of 32 spot already clinched, the U.S. takes on Turkey in the World Cup
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Special Series Soccer Edition Follow the World Cup in the NPR App Find Your Station Sign up for Up First for Soccer Edition on Tuesdays The 2026 FIFA World Cup is from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Sixteen host cities across North America, including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Kansas City, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States. The NPR Network will have coverage from across the country leading up to and during the championship. With a Round of 32 spot already clinched, the U.S. The U.S. — For the U.S. men's national soccer team, a loss in Thursday night's FIFA World Cup game against Turkey wouldn't change anything.
A win, though, would be history.
Soccer Edition Long before the World Cup, Ukrainian immigrants built a soccer powerhouse in Philly The squad's earlier wins over Paraguay and Australia, plus two losses by Turkey to the same teams, mean the Americans have already won their group and clinched a favorable path in the knockout round, no matter the outcome of Thursday's game.
But the American men have never won more than two games in a single World Cup. A third win would be new territory for this team, which has not been shy about its aspirations in this tournament and its confidence about living up to them.
"The group stage is not done yet. We want to end it the right way. We want to end it the way we came into it and continue to build off of the momentum that we've been creating," said defender Mark McKenzie, speaking to reporters Wednesday.
Soccer Edition US eases restriction on Iran's World Cup team, allowing travel 2 days before next match Because the outcome of the game does not affect knockout-round placement, the U.S.
Turkey had come into the World Cup with high expectations. With talented young stars like the 21-year-old attackers Arda Güler of Real Madrid and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus, the team was thought by many — from analysts to the players themselves — to be a dark horse capable of a deep run.
Instead, they were eliminated last week when their loss to Paraguay followed the U.S. win over Australia, prompting apologies from Turkey's despondent players to their fans after the game.
"We had high expectations. I know because all of our country was supporting us and thought we will come very far," Yildiz said. "Hopefully for the next game we can make a good result and go out with pride."
The U.S. and Turkey last faced each other in an international friendly in June 2025, which Turkey won 2-1. The U.S.
"We had a really young team, but we went out there and put in a good performance. I don't think the result necessarily reflected how we played," Richards said. "Whoever's on the field, I know we're going to go out there and give 110 percent."
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− takes on Turkey in the World Cup June 25, 202612:00 AM ET Becky Sullivan
Folarin Balogun (r) of the U.S.
+ takes on Turkey in the World Cup Updated June 25, 202610:08 PM ET Originally published June 25, 202612:00 AM ET Becky Sullivan
Auston Trusty #6 of the United States celebrates with teammate Sebastian Berhalter #14 after scoring his team's first goal during their World Cup match against Turkey on Thursday in Inglewood, Calif.
− celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Weston McKennie during their World Cup match against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif.
+ Win, lose or draw, the U.S.
− The U.S.
+ has already won its group and will advance to the knockout round.
− defeated Paraguay and, later, Australia.
+ Jamie Squire/Getty Images hide caption
Editor's note: The U.S.
+ scores first for the third straight game in this World Cup! A corner kick in the third minute found defender Auston Trusty and his left foot, who powered it past Turkey's goalkeeper.
− wraps up group play against Turkey on Thursday evening.
+ leads 1-0
Turkey wastes no time in evening things up!
− Win, lose or draw, the U.S.
+ In the 10th minute, a turnover in the Americans' defensive third ends up on the foot of Turkey star Arda Güler, who doesn't miss.
− has already won its group and will advance to the knockout round.
+ 1-1.
Turkey takes the lead!
− Richard Heathcote/Getty Images hide caption
INGLEWOOD, Calif.
+ The other young Turkish star, attacker Kenan Yildiz, sends a cross into the box, and Orkun Kökçü slides it in to go up 2-1 in the 31st minute.
+ The U.S. trails for the first time in this World Cup.
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INGLEWOOD, Calif.
− can rest key starters who will enter the match with a yellow card.
+ starting lineup will look dramatically different than its two previous World Cup games.
− For those players — defenders Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Folarin Balogun — picking up a second yellow card against Turkey would result in a suspension in the Round of 32.
+ Only one player from the team's original starting eleven — midfielder Weston McKennie — will start Thursday's match against Turkey.
Four U.S.
− (Any single yellow cards will be cleared after the group stage concludes.)
The team could also choose to ease in forward Christian Pulisic, who is expected to be available for the game after sitting out the U.S.-Australia game with a minor calf injury.
+ players are carrying a yellow card and will sit out to avoid the risk of picking up a second, which would result in an automatic suspension in the Round of 32, in which the U.S. will face Bosnia and Herzegovina. All four players with a yellow — defenders Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Folarin Balogun — are key starters and crucial to any U.S. aspirations of a deep run. (Single yellow cards will be cleared after the group stage concludes.)
Forward Christian Pulisic will also start the game on the bench. He missed the U.S.-Australia game with a minor calf injury, but he rejoined the team in training this week and will be available as a substitute. Forward Ricardo Pepi started the Australia game in place of Pulisic and earned another start against Turkey.
− On Wednesday, Yildiz echoed that apology and promised to "give our best" in Thursday's game against the U.S.
+ Soccer Edition The Viking chant that became Norway's World Cup rallying cry On Wednesday, Yildiz echoed that apology and promised to "give our best" in Thursday's game against the U.S.
− roster for that game was missing several key players, including Pulisic, Robinson, Balogun and midfielder Weston McKennie.
+ roster for that game was missing several key players, including Pulisic, Robinson, Balogun and McKennie.